Ignorance, Confidence, and Filthy Rich Friends: The Business Adventures of Mark Twain, Chronic Speculator and Entrepreneur

ISBN-13: 9780471933373 / Angielski / Twarda / 2007 / 288 str.

Peter Krass

Opis

While the entire world knows Mark Twain as the renowned author of many classic American novels, few people are aware that he was also a highly successful businessman. In fact, more than half of his life was consumed by moneymaking pursuits, which often resulted in writing projects being neglected--but at the same time, these adventures were the inspiration behind many of the characters found in his books.

In Ignorance, Confidence, and Filthy Rich Friends, Peter Krass captures a little-known side of this American icon and details the roller coaster ride of his business ventures in a dramatic, entertaining, and informative narrative style. From Twain's time as the founder of his own publishing house--where he made a small fortune publishing General Ulysses S. Grant's memoirs--to his foray into venture capitalism and investment in numerous start-up firms, to his focus on his own inventions, this engaging book reveals the Mark Twain that few of us know: the no-nonsense, successful American businessman.

Spis treści

Chapter one. Early Hard Knocks on the Road to Riches and Fame.

Quirky Habits and Brazen Philosophy: How to Outwit Your Superiors.

Chapter two. How to Quit a Good Job and Then Lose a Million Dollars.

Quirky Habits and Brazen Philosophy: Even a Crank Knows to Dress for Success.

Chapter three. Sometimes Necessity Is the Mother of a Career.

Quirky Habits and Brazen Philosophy: Overcoming Stage Fright and Winning the Audience as a Public Speaker.

Chapter four. Welcome to Corporate America: Hard–Nosed Negotiating and Profit–Driven Management.

Quirky Habits and Brazen Philosophy: The Authors Stormy Work Habits.

Chapter five. Sucked into the Gilded Age: Money Lust and the Making of an Inventor.

Quirky Habits and Brazen Philosophy: Managing a Glut of Loathsome Correspondence.

Chapter six. Seeing and Seizing Opportunities:Venture Capitalist and Wall Street Speculator.

Quirky Habits and Brazen Philosophy: The Half–Soled Stockbroker.

Chapter seven. Bold Vision and Imagination: How Twain Made General U. S. Grant and Himself Rich.

Quirky Habits and Brazen Philosophy: Smoking Inspires Brainstorming and Problem Solving.

Chapter eight. A Shakespearean Business Tale: How Blind Love in Business Turns to Tragedy.

Quirky Habits and Brazen Philosophy: Image Is Everything, But Interviews Are Twaddle.

Chapter nine. Enduring Financial Crisis and Adversity:A Rockefeller Crony Comes to the Rescue.

Quirky Habits and Brazen Philosophy: Are Ethics for Fools?

Chapter ten. Salvaging a Career and Dignity.

Quirky Habits and Brazen Philosophy: Avoid My Example.

Chapter eleven. Back in the Saddle: Playing the Insiders Game.

Quirky Habits and Brazen Philosophy: How to Live a Long, Successful Life.

Selected Mark Twain Maxims.

Notes.

Index.

O autorze

Peter Krass is an accomplished and prolific author, editor, and researcher. He has written and edited ten books, including Portrait of War, Blood & Whiskey: The Life and Times of Jack Daniel and Carnegie, all published by Wiley. Krass lives in Hanover, New Hampshire.